Short News
Costa Rica’s energy is green
For the fourth consecutive year, Costa Rica has produced more than 98% of its total energy from renewable sources like water, geothermal energy, and wind.
Fewer Tanzanian children have malaria
In Tanzania there has been a significant drop in the prevalence of malaria in children. A decade ago, 18% of Tanzanian kids had malaria. That number is 7% now.
Pacific islands ban bad sunscreen
From 2020, the tiny Pacific island state of Palau will ban the use of sunscreen containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, because they harm corals.
Fully electric bus line in Taipei
Taipei has opened its first fully electrical bus line. Each bus has solar panels on top, and the engines are made by Danish company Danfoss Editron.
Senegal fights cervical cancer
Senegal and the Gavi Vaccine Alliance have begun to immunise 1.1 million young girls against cervical cancer before the end of 2019.
Vietnam defeats disfiguring disease
The disfiguring disease elephantiasis, which makes limbs swell and can cause permanent disability, has been eliminated in Vietnam.
Free universities in Liberia
The president of Liberia, George Weah, has announced that all public universities in the country will be free for undergraduate studies.
Plastic bottles as bus tickets
In Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, you can now buy a ticket for the city buses and pay with five empty bottles or ten plastic cups.
Rise in use of renewables in the US
Ten American states now get at least 20% of their electricity from sun and wind. In four of the states, renewable sources make up over 30%.
Denmark works for the Global Goals
Denmark has been rated second best on the list of countries that do the most to achieve the Global Goals. Sweden placed first.
Equality in Ethiopian government
Half of Ethiopia’s 20 ministers are now women, making Ethiopia the second African country after Rwanda to have equal gender representation in the cabinet.
Renewable energy cheaper than coal
Kosovo has been refused a loan to build a new coal fired power plant because renewable energy sources are now cheaper than coal.